Selected by the Colorado Rockies in the 22nd round of the 2017 MLB Draft out of Central Michigan University, outfield prospect Daniel Jipping spent his first professional summer with the Boise Hawks of the short-season Northwest League. During his time in Boise, Jipping appeared in 51 games and slashed .233/.326/.446/.771 over 221 plate appearances (193 at-bats), with four doubles, eleven home runs, 21 walks, and 65 strikeouts. Named to the Northwest League All-Star Team at midseason, Jipping also won the league’s home run derby in early August; video of his home run derby swings can be seen in the scouting report below.

Built like a linebacker at 6’2″ and 232 pounds, and set to turn 22 years old at the very start of the 2018 season (DOB: April 10, 1996), Daniel Jipping could move fairly quickly through the low minors with the Colorado Rockies thanks to prodigious raw power and some ability to actualize it in game situations. That could make Jipping something of a fringe/sleeper prospect in the coming years, though it’s predicated on his power continuing to develop as his best and most projectable tool. Below, you’ll find our full Daniel Jipping scouting report, including game and home run derby video, and tool grades, notes, and projections.

TOOL (FV)NOTES & COMMENTS
Hit (45) No-nonsense stance with little by way of leg kick for leverage. Remarkably patient hitter unafraid to take pitches, work counts. Below-average contact ability; decent pitch recognition with some proven ability to walk. Struggles to manipulate the barrel at times and relies on raw muscle for power more than bat speed and manipulation for leverage. Mild bat wrap in his swing at times, though generally straightforward and to the point with his mechanics. Tendency to get pull-happy in approach, especially for power, and may struggle against better pitching as he’s exploited more consistently with off-speed away. Even with pull approach, can get tied up with hard stuff on inner half; can get too long to the ball.
Power (60) Well above-average (65/70) raw power in batting practice/home run derby situations. Has already shown ability to actualize into game power, too, and hit the ball in the air with authority. Understands how to hit the ball in the air, though must create more leverage in his swing to avoid relying on simply muscling the ball out of the ballpark; impressive raw strength and muscular physical build will help, too, as he learns how to more consistently and subtly manipulate the barrel against better pitchers. Power will undoubtedly prove to be his carrying tool moving forward.
Glove (50) Good feel for outfield movement, including running in and back on balls hit in the air. Decent instincts and reactions in the outfield to balls off the bat; athletic with enough foot speed to survive out there, though unspectacular. Unremarkable defender, but won’t be a black hole; should profile well in left field moving forward.
Arm (45) Muscle-bound, thick top half somewhat limits arm action, raw arm strength, and flexibility. Below-average arm strength with poor carry and below-average top velocity; accuracy is fine. Likely ticketed for left field in an everyday role, though could feasibly play right as a platoon/bench outfielder filling in for short stints.
Speed (40) Tight cluster of home-to-first times ranging 4.37 – 4.44. Slow first step with some jailbreak out of the box, takes some time to get to top speed and lacks foot speed on base paths until he really strides out and extends. Speed plays up somewhat more in the outfield where he’s got room and time to get up to full speed running into gaps. Ultimately below-average at both spots and unlikely to ever be a significant speed threat, though he shows good instincts and anticipation on bases.
Intangibles Intense competitor, max effort and high-energy type. Spark plug potential in a future bench role. Plays happy — talkative, smiles, shows he’s having fun. Interesting sleeper pick moving forward; could move well through Colorado’s system considering hitter-friendly parks at Low-A Asheville, High-A Lancaster, and Triple-A Albuquerque.

Daniel Jipping Scouting Report — Notes & Analysis
One of Baseball Census‘ more fun events of the 2017 season was watching Daniel Jipping and Kansas City Royals prospect Robby Rinn put on a wonderful show at the Northwest League/Pioneer League Home Run Derby in Hillsboro, Oregon at the beginning of August. Jipping won the event going away, showing off very impressive raw power and the natural strength and stamina to match that’s somewhat uncommon for a player at this level. If he consistently proves that power can translate into game action — he did hit 11 home runs in 51 games over the summer — Jipping will surge forward as a strong under-the-radar prospect for the Colorado Rockies over the next couple years.

He’s relatively unremarkable in other aspects of his game, and he must improve his hit tool if he’s to be a serious option in the big leagues three or four years from now, but that impressive power profile will ultimately be a carrying tool and push Daniel Jipping as far as he is to go in professional baseball. If he remains a one-trick pony to that end, a bench/pinch-hitter future should be in the cards, where he could be a particularly good fit at Coors Field in Denver.

Daniel Jipping Scouting Report — Future Projection
The Colorado Rockies may push Daniel Jipping, especially in light of his power profile, and test him with an assignment at High-A Lancaster to begin 2018. He’ll be 22 years old at Opening Day this coming spring, and his four-year college background may leave him advanced enough to begin his first full pro season on an accelerated pace. Add his natural ability to hit the ball in the air and imagine it happening in Lancaster’s launching pad of a home ballpark, and the outfield prospect may find early success there.

Beyond that, I think it’s entirely possible Daniel Jipping will turn himself into a fringe prospect with an eventual ceiling as a power-hitting fourth/fifth outfielder who can eventually make an impact in the big leagues as a pinch hitter. As a 22nd round draft pick from a school not known as a baseball power, if Jipping’s plus power can truly carry him into becoming a serviceable big league role player, it’ll be a feather in the Colorado Rockies’ cap as far as good scouting, drafting, and player development are concerned.

Overall Future Potential (Future Value): Fourth/fifth outfielder-type with ample raw power to fill pinch-hitter role off the bench; must improve hit tool for greater impact (40)